Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Big 5 Sporting Goods Sports a 12% Dividend But...

Big Five Sporting Goods stock price

Regional sporting goods retailer Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation (NASDAQ: BGFV) stock has fallen since its $41.33 high in November 2021 as both top, and bottom lines continue to shrink. The company had a big surge during the post-pandemic reopening as team sports and live events resumed. However, 2022 was a challenging year for comps as inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty caused consumers to tighten their discretionary spending habits. These headwinds are expected to continue moving forward. Big 5 continues to experience normalization as the top and bottom deflate. This makes the dividend yield grow at the cost of shrinking share prices.

Sticking Out Like a Sore Thumb

Amongst the sports retailers, Big 5 sticks out like a sore thumb with its underperformance. The sports retailing industry has been predominantly strong heading into 2023. Big 5 has fallen (50%) in the past year while peers have seen double-digit gains. It continues to vastly underperform sports retailers like DICK’S Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS) up 33%, Dilliard’s Inc. (NYSE: DDS) up 30%, Hibbett Inc. (NASDAQ: HIBB) up 38%, and Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) up 38% in the past year.

Big 5 could be getting squeezed out by its peers. The company issued downside guidance for Q4 2022 earnings estimates on Jan. 17, 2023. It lowered EPS estimates to $0.07 to $0.08 versus the $0.13 analyst estimate and way below its previous forecast of $0.29 at the end of Q2 2022.

Shrinkage Continues

On Feb. 28, 2022, Big 5 released its fiscal third-quarter 2022 results for the quarter ending September 2022. The company reported an earnings-per-share (EPS) profit of $0.08, beating estimates by $0.01. Net income was $1.7 million compared to $19.9 million in the year-ago period. Revenues fell (-9.7%) year-over-year (YoY) to $238.3 million, down from $273.4 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales dropped (-13.2%) YoY. Q4 merchandise margins fell (129 bps) YoY but still remain up 300 bps compared to Q4 2019.

Big 5 CEO Steven Miller commented, “Looking at our current trending, while our seasonal winter products have performed well in the first quarter to date, macroeconomic conditions have continued to impact our customers’ discretionary spending.” The company will continue prioritizing margins and remaining nimble to combat inflationary pressures.

Is the Dividend in Jeopardy?

The over 12% dividend yield looks tempting, but revenue growth continues to normalize, falling nearly (10%). As EPS also shrinks, it depletes the company's cash with the hefty dividend payout. If EPS continues to fall, Big 5 may have to slash its dividend. However, it still pays the $0.25 per share dividend as of the March 10, 2023, ex-dividend date. 

Weekly Descending Triangle Breakdown

The weekly candlestick chart on BGFV forms a second lower descending triangle. A descending triangle is characterized by having a flat bottom with sequentially lower highs intersecting trendlines at the apex. Shares are expected to collapse through the lower flat trendline or break out through the falling diagonal trendline.

This weekly descending triangle commenced after peaking at $12.27 in November 2022. BGFV fell for the next four weeks, reaching a low of $8.08. It triggered a weekly market structure low (MSL) bounce through $9.02 to peak at $10.52 in January 2023.

Every weekly candle made lower highs on the bounce attempts, eventually causing shares to fall back down to retest the flat bottom trendline at $8.12 again. The weekly stochastic has crossed down to test the 20-band.

The weekly exponential moving average (EMA) resistance continues to fall at $9.87, followed by the weekly 50-period MA resistance at $11.18. Pullback support levels are at $7.46, $6.82, $6.32, and $5.45.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.